Inkstand



Patentecl Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INKS'IAND Gustav J. Sengbusch, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 10, 1933, Serial N0. 692,918 3 Claims. (o1.120- 4 'I'his lnvention re1ates to inkstands and has for its main object the provision of an inkstand which will be low in cost of production and hence salab1e at a. low price, while at the same time providing an arrangement for ho1ding a pen in oonveniently accessible position and an arrangement whereby an inkwell is readily opened or closed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following speoifica.tion and accompanying drawing in which there is illustra/oed. an inkstand embodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the inkstand in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a section similar to Fig. 1 butshowing the inkstand opened; and

Flg. 3 is a plan, the parts being in the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring now 130 the drawing, the improved inkstand includes a base 5 having a receptacle 6 therein comprising a, reservoir portior'1 I and a pen dipping portion 8. The base 5 is preferably formed of a moldable material which is not afiected by ink and the receptacle is molded during the molding of the base. Also, any ernamentation such as more or less fancifully shaped edges, as shown in the drawing, may be formed in the molding operation. The pen dipping well portion 8 is preferably somewhat tapered within ehe reservoir portion and the bottom 015 the well portion is preferably inclined downwardly from its opposite sides to a depressed portion substantia1ly central of the well. As best shown in Fig. 3, the reservoir is much larger in its area. than the well portion 8 and the two parts are in effect separated by a neck-like passageway portion 9 between the reservoir and well.

A cover member I is longitudinally, i. e., forwardly am]. rearwardly, slidably mounted on the top of the base. The cover may be molded of the same kind cf material as is used in the formation f the base, 01' II deslred, it may be formed of a different kind and contrasting material.

For guiding the cover I0 in its sllding movement, there are provided. upstanding, longitudina1ly extending ribs H, II formed integrally with the base member and in such spaced relation that the cover fits slidably between them. For limiting the sliding movement of the cover, it is provided with a depending lug or rib I2 which depends into the reservoir 1 and is adapted 120 engage the upper portion of the front Wall I3 of the reservoir when the cover is in closed position.

The lug I2 is also adapted to engage the upper portion of the rear Wall I4 of the reservoir when the cover is in open position. By comparison of Figs.- 1 and 2, it will be seen that when the cover is in open position, the pen dipping well 8 is exposed so that a pen mmy be readily dipped in the well. However, a major portion of the cover remains in overlying relation to the base so that; the rearwardly projecting portion oannot everbalance and cause the cover 130 tip out cf p1ace 10 m the base. It is preferable that the cover be slidably supported on relatively na.rrow top surface portions of the base. Accordingly, the top surface of the base surrounding the receptacle is provided With shallow recessed portions, as

indicated ab I5, to leave the desired. surrounding relatively narrow supporting surface portions. By this means, the smearing of ink which somefimes gathers on the bottom of the cover is prevented. F01 holding a, writing pen I6 in readiness for use, the cover II] is provided With a pen socket I1, the latter being suitably shaped. to limit the insertion of the pen by engagement with a por tion thereof, for example, by engagement With the 1ower end 18, as indicated in Fig. 1. The opening is preferably flared somewhat ab its upper end to facilitate the insertion of the pen point. As shown in Fig. 1, the pen point enters the reservoir 1 when the pen is disposed in the Socket. When the reservoir contains a sufficient supp1y of ink the pen point will, of course', be immersed in the ink so that upon its removal 113 is wet with ink and immediately ready for writing. In -the event that the supply of ink in the reservoir is low, the pen point may nevertheless be sufficiently moist to be immediately ready for writing, inasmuch as the air in the reservoir is saturated with ink vapor owing to the normal tendency for ink to evaporate. I1; will be seen that as 40 an incident to the removal of the pen from the cover socket, the cover may, through the agency of the pen holder, be s1id back to its open position so that when necessary, the pen may be .dipped. in the well portion 8. Also, when the pen is replaced, the cover may, through the agency cf the pen holder anti while retaining hold thereof, be conveniently moved to adjusted position. 'It will be seen that in the structure described, when the cover is in closed position and a pen is disposed in the socket, evaporation of the ink is reta.rded if not wholly prevented, inasmuch as the ink receptacle is closed. The described structure is capable of being produced by low cost molding operations and requires no machin- Without departing from the spirit of the invention, the sco-pe of which should be determined by reference 1:0 the following c1aims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

1. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a base having an ink receptacle therein, a cover slidably mounted on the base so as to be movable from receptacle closing position to open position uncovering a portion of the receptacle, means for limiting said sliding movement of the cover to deoermine said open and closed positions thereof, said cover having a pen socket provided with an outwardly fiared upper end portion 130 facilitate insertion of a pen holder in the socket, said socket being adapted 130 receive and hold a pen holder in upright, convemlently accessible position so that the pen holder, when in the socket, constitutes means through the agency of which the cover may conveniently be manually moved from said closed to said open position as an incident to withdrawal of the pen from the socket for writing purposes, said cover being adapted 150 be similarly manually closed through the age ncy of the pen as an incident to replacement thereof in the socket.

2. In an inkstand of the dass described, the combination of a base havlng an ink receptacle therein a cover for the receptacle, saicl cover being slidably mounted 011 the base so as to be movable from receptacle closing position to open position uncovering a portion of the receptacle, means for limiting said sliding movement of the cover to determine said open and closed positions thereof, said cover having a pen socket provided with an outwardly flared upper end portion to facilitate insertion of a pen holder in the socket, said socket being adapted to receive and. hold a. pen holder in upright, conveniently accessible position so that the pen holder, when in the socket, constitutes means through the agency of which the cover may conveniently be manually moved f1om closed open position as an incident to withdrawal of the pen from the Socket for writing purposes, said cover being adapted be similarly manually closed thro-ugh the agency of the pen as an incident to replacement thereof in the Socket, seid cover being vertically displaceable from said base and being of sufliciently heavy construction to prevent overbalancing thereof by the pen holder when in the socket.

3. In an inkstand of the dass described, the combination of a base having an ink receptacle therein comprising a main reservoir and a pen dipping we1l connected to the reservoir, the dipping we1l portion being of much smaller area than the main reservoir, a cover for the receptacle said cover being slidably mounted on the base so as to be movable from receptacle closing position to open position uncovering the dipping wel1 portion of the receptacle, means for 1irniting said sliding movement of the cover to determine said open and closed positions thereof, said cover having a pen socket extending therethrough and communicating with said receptacle, said socket being provided with an outwardly flared upper and portion to facilitate insertion of a pen holder in the socket and with an internally reduced lower end portion for limiting insertion of a pen holder er, when in the socket, constitutes means through 

